Trucking bad idea?

Considering autonomous cars would it be a bad idea to get into trucking now?

Nope, trucking is a field that will always be in need of drivers.
Especially local trucking, local trucking is doing things like picking up and dropping off material, which cannot under any circumstance be automated.
But regardless of automation, long haul trucking would still be an occupation.

automation in driving is a meme and the only way it would work is all or nothing. so yes, get into trucking since we will be needing drivers for many more decades to come.

just buy robot trucks and manage them.

If trains and airplanes have not been automated yet, trucks won't be anytime soon. You might make the case that long haul no touch freight trucks might get partially automated at the most. Automated cars can't drive in poor weather, they can't read poorly maintained roads (most areas with heavy truck traffic the roads are complete ass) they can't determine if an object in the road is a danger or not (tumbleweed vs concrete block) and they drive like grandmas when confused. Studies have shown that the backup driver in automated tests only makes a dangerous situation worse because they have to take over in a bad situation in which they probably weren't paying attention to in the first place. So this will be an all or nothing type of deal, what would the point be of automating the easiest part of the drives anyway.

Also, who is going to load, secure, unload and deal with paperwork? Who will fill the truck and pretrip it to ensure it is safe to drive? That will always have to be someone qualified to drive the damn thing. A CDL is great to have. Even if you find a better job you always have a decent paying easy job to fall back on if you ever need to.

Thoughts on FedEx/UPS jobs?

Trains are automated in some places.
The problem really stems with 100% auto trains is, like you said with roads, rail maintenance. Also huge cost and massive union action as train companies move ahead with automation.

>who is going to secure and unload
Not the recipients and staff at whichever depot or destination?
Not like you need a truck licence for that, just a few pages of health & safety briefing and checklist etc.

You are right about the rest though, tech isn't there just yet.

As a delivery driver you'll be working your ass off. A CDL job it would be much more cozy. UPS even offers a pension if you can survive the holiday hiring.

FedEx driver here. Depending on were you live, it can be enjoyable. I deliver out in the bumshart middle of nowhere, so I get to know most of the people I regularly deliver to and make friends. Drivers that work in the suburbs say it's absolutely hell.

>Is trucking a bad idea?
That depends, do you enjoy smoking meth and killing hookers? If not then it's a bad idea